New Biodiesel Plant in Cleveland

John Davis

A new biodiesel refinery will open in downtown Cleveland in two weeks, and according to this article in the CantonRep.com, they’ll use soybean oil to make the biodiesel:

Center Alternative Energy, a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Center Oil Co., will produce the biodiesel fuel in a storage terminal along the Cuyahoga River near downtown, refining soybean oil and blending it with traditional petroleum-based diesel, [John Samsel, president of Center Alternative Energy Co] said.

And it looks like the refinery is coming none too soon:

The city of Cleveland will use a 5 percent biodiesel blend in 10 to 15 percent of its diesel fleet starting May 1, said Andrew Watterson, Cleveland’s sustainability manager. A six-month monitoring program will test emissions and engine performance in 15 of those vehicles.

Officials say Cleveland was picked because of its access to rail lines, ports on Lake Erie, and the large customer base in that part of Ohio.

Biodiesel

Crow Wraps Up Stop Global Warming Tour

John Davis

Crow and bus
Singer Sheryl Crow and environmentalist Laurie David (in the center of the picture above) wrapped up their nationwide tour in a biodiesel bus at a stop in Washington, DC today, Earth Day. The Washington Post featured some posts from Crow’s and David’s blogs along the way on the Stop Global Warming College Tour:

David (4/10, Dallas): I am jogging outside in 40 degree freezing cold . . . 70 degrees in January and 40 degrees in April. That is exactly why Sheryl Crow and I are in a biodiesel bus going thru the Southeast visiting college campuses to talk about the urgency of this issue and how everyone . . . everyone . . . has to start doing something. I would write more, but I have to go run warm water over my hands and thaw out from my run.

The actual blog posts are a little tough to find but this web site StopGlobalWarming.org is a good start.

Biodiesel

First 100% Biodiesel Tractors in UK

John Davis

New Holland tractorsFour New Holland tractors are the first tractors that run on 100% biodiesel to arrive in the United Kingdom to work at Cornwall’s Eden Project, “an environmentally-focused attraction all about man’s relationship with plants and the environment.”

According to this story in the Farmers Guardian, not only will the tractors be good for the environment, they’ll be good for the local economy:

The four New Holland machines will emit 70 per cent less carbon dioxide than the ones they replace. They will also cut carbon monoxide emissions by half, particulates by 70 per cent and hydrocarbons by 40 per cent.

The hope is the 20 litres of fuel each tractor requires daily will be supplied by local oilseed rape growers.

Eden’s Gus Grand said: “The environmental benefits of the tractors are not solely due to the fuel. The engines are more efficient than our old ones. With these new tractors we are trying to drive people’s interest in green motoring forward. If we can do it, so can others.”

The article goes on to say if this test is successful, expansion of the idea could be part of what helps the UK achieve its 5% Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation by 2010.

Biodiesel, International

Dems Also Irked Over Conoco/Tyson Biodiesel Plans

John Davis

This week, we’ve heard a lot of talk about a change in Internal Revenue Service policy that will allow big oil companies to cash in on a $1-a-gallon tax credit originally intended to help the biodiesel industry off the ground (see my posts on April 16th & April 18th). The National Biodiesel Board has blasted the IRS for the change, and now some key Democrats in the U.S. Congress are vowing to change things back.

This article on Bloomberg.com tells more:

Rep. Lloyd Doggett“There appears to be abuse that demands legislative correction,” said Texas Representative Lloyd Doggett, who is drafting a measure to overturn the IRS rule with Representative John Larson of Connecticut. Senator Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, said yesterday during a Finance Committee hearing that the companies tried to “go around” Congress and that the tax credit needs to be “re-examined.”

Doggett, a senior member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, said he may introduce his bill as early as today. Cantwell, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, is still drafting hers.

Opponents of extending the credit to the oil companies point out that this could force the other biodiesel ventures out of business.

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation

Purely POET

Cindy Zimmerman

The company formally known as Broin has officially completed the name changing of all its ethanol production facilities.

Poet POET, formerly known as Broin Companies, announced today that all 26 of its ethanol production facilities have changed their name to POET Biorefining. With the addition of the plants, the 32 entities that made up the Broin Companies are now united under the POET brand as the largest dry-mill ethanol producer in the country.

POET President & CEO Jeff Broin said the change will strengthen their communications and more clearly represent their position in the ethanol industry. “The 32 entities that comprise POET have always operated as one,” said Broin. “Now that we are operating under the same name, the strength of our team will be unmistakable.”

POET has one plant opening next month in Corning, Iowa and another seven currently under construction.

A blog on product names, called the Name Wire, did a recent post about Broin’s name change to POET asking readers to vote on whether they like it or not. Rural Iowa commentator Chuck Offenburger also gave his poetic opinion. So far, POET is getting rave reviews.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Obama Calls for Low Carbon Fuels

Cindy Zimmerman

ObamaOn the campaign trail in New Hampshire on Friday, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) called for a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (NLCFS) similar to one created in California earlier this year by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

According to a news release, Obama’s proposal would require that all transportation fuels sold in the U.S. contain 5 percent less carbon by 2015 and 10 percent less carbon by 2020. The NCLFS would also create an incentive for the production of more flexible-fuel vehicles that can run on ethanol and more plug-in hybrid vehicles that run on electricity.

“It will take a grassroots effort to make America greener and end the tyranny of oil. This Earth Day should mark the beginning of a nationwide effort to harness our technology, our ingenuity and our will to achieve energy independence in our time,” Obama said.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Government, News

Gulf Ethanol Expansion

Cindy Zimmerman

Gulf Gulf Ethanol is expanding its search for plant sites throughout the Texas and Louisiana coastal region.

According to a company release, Gulf Ethanol has a non-binding letter of intent to purchase an existing manufacturing facility in Bayport, Texas from Clean-Fuel International Corp., and is actively evaluating additional sites for the processing and production of ethanol and other biofuels.

“We feel there is an exceptional opportunity to grow a production and processing capacity along the gulf coast. The majority of America’s ethanol production is currently in the corn belt,” noted JT Cloud, Gulf’s President. “We see ample opportunity to expand processing and production to the heavily populated south. We expect to use fuel stocks grown in Texas and Louisiana as well as considering the importation of raw sugars from Brazil and other South American countries,” he added.

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Greening the Gas Pumps

John Davis

California, especially the San Francisco Bay area, is known for its environmentally conscious ways. According to this story in the North County Times, the area’s first public biodiesel station takes green to a whole new level:

BioFuels OasisBiofuel Oasis, a Berkeley-based retailer, said its station will feature credit-card operated pumps, air and water hoses, a convenience store and long hours. But the four well-lit pumps will be solar powered, the convenience store will sell organic lemonade, and the pumps will only dispense biodiesel, which is frequently made from products such as vegetable oil or soy.

The new station should save time for the Bay Area’s ever-increasing flock of biodiesel drivers, who now have to wait as long as an hour to fill up at Biofuel Oasis’ one-pump warehouse in West Berkeley or drive to a membership co-op in San Francisco during its very limited hours.

“We think this is going to bring biodiesel to a whole new level,” said Melissa Hardy, Biofuel Oasis co-owner. “Although we like to think of this as the anti-gas station.”

There are about a dozen biodiesel stations in the Bay Area, but the others are cooperatives for members only and are opened limited hours.

Biodiesel

Manitoba Considers Biodiesel Mandate

John Davis

The Canadian province of Manitoba is considering legislation that would ensure biodiesel quality sold in the province and could eventually mandate a minimum standard.

Check out this story on the pending Biofuels Amendment Act on TruckNews.com:

Rondeau“We are excited about the potential the biofuels industry holds for Manitoba,” said Jim Rondeau, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines. “This new legislation will provide the framework to ensure real and sustained growth of the ethanol and biodiesel industries for years to come.”

Rondeau noted the proposed legislation would also position the province to implement a mandate for biodiesel at some point in the near future.

If the legislation passes, Manitoba would be the first Canadian province to mandate biodiesel.

Biodiesel, International

Robotic Ethanol Research

Cindy Zimmerman

Robotic A robotic arm is providing a helping hand for USDA researchers doing cellulosic ethanol research.

The one-armed robot is helping scientists with the Agricultural Research Service in Peoria, Illinois speed studies aimed at harnessing the power of proteins for industrial uses, such as making fuel ethanol from fibrous corn stover.

According to an ARS article, the robotic system can carry out tasks hundreds—or even thousands—of times faster than a human could.

Of particular interest is using the robotic system to genetically modify new strains of yeast that can metabolize sugars locked up within corn fiber—something these microbial workhorses have so far failed to do.

Cellulosic, Ethanol, News, Research